Combination bowl, lid and plate

ABSTRACT

A utensil for storing and/or eating food. A bowl has an upper edge and a lower section. A groove is defined within the upper edge. A raised seal encircles the lower section. A lid is in combination with the bowl, the lid having a top surface and lid wall upstanding from the top surface, the lid wall having a lid wall inner surface. A freshness seal is formed against the inner wall surface of the lid, and a depression is defined within the top surface, the depression having defined therein a recessed track; wherein the lid is adapted to removably connect to the bowl at either the lower section or at the upper edge by frictional engagement between, respectively, the raised seal with the depression or the freshness seal with the groove.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 63/363,390, filed Apr. 22, 2022, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to storage containers. More particularly, provided is a bowl and lid combination, wherein the removable lid can be placed underlying the bowl to double as a plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

US 2003/0111468 to Kao teaches a beverage container including a cup having a configuration suitable for nesting, and a cap removably covering a top opening of the cup. The cup is provided above a bottom with a predetermined length of diameter-reduced section, and the cap is provided near a top center with a round recess for engaging with the diameter-reduced section of the cup. The cap may be removed from the loaded cup and positioned on a tabletop with the round recess facing upward, so that the diameter-reduced section of the cup may be inserted into the round recess of the cap to stably hold the cup to an upright position.

US 2006/0169693 to Yeung shows a silicone lid for sealing any type of open-ended container. The lid includes a top having a first center and a bottom having a second center. The second center being in the same center axis as the first center. The center axis being a certain thickness. The silicone lid is sealed to the container by placing the bottom of the lid on an open-ended side of an open-ended container and depressing the top forcing air out of the container and forming a vacuum seal.

There is a need then for a two-piece combination that allows for the plate/saucer component of the two pieces to be a base for a food to be placed on as sort of a chip dish, and the bowl snaps into the center elevated ring in the middle of the plate to form a one-piece chip plate and dip bowl, as more particularly-described below.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Comprehended is a bowl and lid combination, including: a plate, the plate doubling as a lid; a concentric ring formed upstanding on the plate; the ring having defined therein a recess/groove/track along its inner surface; the plate having a raised outer lip; a silicon, raised freshness seal along the outer lip; a bowl having an upper edge; a groove around the upper edge for receiving the raised freshness seal; the bowl having a lower edge of smaller diameter than upper edge, the lower edge including a raised seal for engaging the recess of the plate ring; as such, the lid for the bowl also doubles as a support plate for the bowl and ancillary dish to accompany the bowl.

More particularly, provided is a utensil, comprising: a bowl having an upper edge and a lower section; a groove defined within the upper edge; a raised seal encircling the lower section; a lid in combination with the bowl, the lid having a top surface and lid wall upstanding from the top surface, the lid wall having a lid wall inner surface; a freshness seal formed against the inner wall surface of the lid; a depression defined within the top surface, the depression having defined therein a recessed track; wherein the lid is adapted to removably connect to the bowl at either the lower section or at the upper edge by frictional engagement between, respectively, the raised seal with the depression or the freshness seal with the groove.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a side view in elevation of the instant “lid-a-bowl”.

FIG. 2 shows a side view in elevation of the bowl portion.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of the combination.

FIG. 4 shows a fragmentary cross-section of the detail at the bottom.

FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the bowl portion.

FIG. 6 shows a fragmentary cross-section of detail at the top connection point.

FIG. 7 shows an additional view of the bowl.

FIG. 8 shows a fragment of the bottom of the bowl.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the lid portion inverted to double as the plate or base.

Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to represent the same parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referencing then FIGS. 1-9 , shown is the present invention, being a utensil 1, particularly for storing and eating food, for example. The utensil 1 is a combination bowl 2 and lid 7. So the first subassembly comprises a bowl 2 having an upper edge 3 and a lower section 5. A groove 4 is defined within the upper edge 3. A raised seal 6 encircles the lower section 5. Thus, in typical bowl-like fashion, the lower section 5 would have a diameter smaller than the upper edge 3, defining an interior. Although not meant to be limiting, example specifics include the lower section 5 of bowl 2 is three (3″) inches in diameter and ⅛ inch in height. The bowl's walls are akin to the shape of a traditional bowl, flaring outward as they rise to a total wall height (not including the ring on the bottom), of eight (8″) inches.

Accompanying the bowl 2 is a circular lid 7 (thus in combination therewith) having top surface 11 and lid wall 8 upstanding from the top surface 11. The lid wall 8 has a lid wall inner surface 9. A freshness seal 10 is formed against the lid wall inner surface 9 of the lid 7. The freshness seal 10 is concentric ring formed of rubber, silicon or the like. Freshness seal 10 is sized to fit and be retained by friction within groove 4 of upper edge 3.

As shown, the lid 7 is turned in an upside-down position to reveal the freshness seal. The concentric ring is adapted to engage the raised, lower system of the bowl as depicted. Accordingly, the contents of the bowl 2 can be secured with the lid 7, then the lid 7 is removed and attached to the underside of the bowl 2 to double as a plate, as further described.

A depression 12 is defined within top surface 11 of lid 7. A recessed track 13 is defined within the depression 12. As such, the lid 7 is adapted to removably connect to the bowl at both the lower section 5 and at the upper edge 3 by frictional engagement between, respectively, the raised seal 6 with the depression 12 or the freshness seal 10 with the groove 4.

It is apparent then the (also termed) Lid-A-Bowl in use is a two-piece combination that allows for the plate/saucer piece of the two pieces to be a base for a food to be placed on as sort of a chip dish, and the bowl 2 snaps into the depression 12 in the middle of the lid 7 to chip lid and dip bowl, for example. Then the bowl 4 is detachable from the lid 7 when the food is finished, the lid 7 turned upside down and snapped onto the top of the bowl 2 thereby creating an air-tight, freshness-sealed lid 7. This combination can also be relevant for meal prep, focusing on consistent serving size. Kids cereal, for example, can be placed in a cabinet already serving-size ready so all that is required is the addition of milk. The product is manufactured from food grade plastics that will tentatively be microwave safe.

While the invention has been described with reference to one or more embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. In addition, all numerical values identified in the detailed description shall be interpreted as though the precise and approximate values are both expressly identified. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A utensil, comprising: a bowl having an upper edge and a lower section; a groove defined within said upper edge; a raised seal encircling said lower section; a lid in combination with said bowl, said lid having a top surface and lid wall upstanding from said top surface, said lid wall having a lid wall inner surface; a freshness seal formed against said inner wall surface of said lid; a depression defined within said top surface, said depression having defined therein a recessed track; wherein said lid is adapted to removably connect to said bowl at both said lower section and at said upper edge by frictional engagement between, respectively, said raised seal with said depression or said freshness seal with said groove. 